Gawked: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Middle English 'gawke,' meaning to stare stupidly or to gape.
• Originally, it was related to the word 'gawk,' which referred to someone who looks foolish or awkward.
• The term has connections to the Old Norse word 'gawka,' which means 'to stare' or 'to gape.'

Psychology

• People often gawk when they're surprised or unintentionally drawn to something, like a loud noise or bright colors.
• Staring or gawking can be a natural human reaction to something startling, part of our instinct to assess new situations.
• Socially, gawking might signify curiosity, but it can also show a lack of awareness of social norms regarding personal space.

Pop Culture

• Gawking has been humorously portrayed in various cartoons where characters dramatically stare at something ridiculous.
• The act of gawking is often featured in movies, especially in scenes where something amazing or shocking occurs.
• Reality TV shows sometimes highlight moments where characters gawk at shocking behavior, emphasizing their reactions.

Literature

• Writers often use the act of gawking to convey characters' surprise, enhancing the emotional impact in narratives.
• In many novels, gawking scenes serve as comic relief or highlight absurd situations that characters find themselves in.
• Classic works include gawking as a motif to depict characters’ naivety or innocence in unfamiliar situations.

Ranking #36,089, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

• ...
• 36086 approver
• 36087 fettle
• 36088 burrito
• 36089 gawked
• 36090 esculent
• 36091 biopolymer
• 36092 butterscotch
• ...